Dieckmann, Naperville N. continue to do damage

Naperville Central is the latest team to find out this fact first-hand - don't sleep on the Naperville North Huskies.

Huskies pitcher Emily Dieckmann doubled in the game's lone run, then worked out of a seventh-inning jam to preserve a 1-0 win on Monday.

No. 20 Naperville North (11-7, 3-1 DuPage Valley Conference), now the only team yet unbeaten in the DVC, has won 9 of its last 11 games. On the Huskies' hit list have been Downers Grove South, Benet, Neuqua Valley, Glenbard North and their crosstown rival Redhawks - all teams ranked this season.

"This team is starting to come together," Huskies coach Jerry Kedziora said. "We're getting big hits and we're playing good defense. We're not beating ourselves, which has happened in the past many times."

Dieckmann allowed just two baserunners to reach second over the first six innings, but gave up a single to Juliet Tassi leading off the top of the seventh. Jill Andreoni bunted, and a high throw to first sailed into foul territory, putting runners on second and third with nobody out.

But Huskies center fielder Caitlyn Warren made a shoestring catch on a short flyball by Nicole Kappelman, the runners holding, and Dieckmann induced a pair of harmless pop-ups to end it.

"It was a little nerve-wracking," Dieckmann said. "I just had to calm down and trust my defense."

Naperville Central coach Andy Nussbaum was kicking himself afterward for holding Tassi at third on the errant throw.

"I take responsibility for not scoring in the seventh," Nussbaum said. "I should have been more aggressive. We could have scored on the bunt. The ball was still in play and with nobody out I was a little conservative."

Dieckmann (5-3), also the winning pitcher against Downers Grove South and Benet, struck out four and scattered 5 hits.

"Big home game," Kedziora said, "and she came through. She hit her spots and shut down a team that can put up a lot of runs."

Scoreless through three innings, Warren started the Huskies fourth by cuing a single just over the outstretched glove of Redhawks first baseman Megan Silke. Up stepped Dieckmann, who smoked a double to the gap in left-center to score Warren after Naperville Central couldn't gather in a popped bunt attempt.

"I was lucky that they didn't catch that," Dieckmann said, "and then she came in and the pitch was up and right over the plate. I just got ahold of it."

Silke was 2-for-3 and Alyssa Wunderlich (8-4) struck out five for Naperville Central (11-7, 3-0). Sammy Marshall had 2 singles and 2 stolen bases for Naperville North, giving the leadoff hitter 22 steals on the season.

Naperville North can match its DVC win total of a year ago by beating Glenbard East on Wednesday.

"3-0 right now, and it's been a few years since we've been there," Kedziora said. "I'm totally excited we're now in control of our destiny. Beating Naperville Central and Glenbard North, teams that have been on top the last couple years, just gives us more confidence."